![\"A](\"http:\/\/nevadasagebrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Lauren-and-Aspen-225x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPhoto courtesy of Lauren Reid<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Walking around the University of Nevada, Reno campus, students may see a woman walking a fluffy four-legged friend. Those two are Lauren Reid and Aspen, respectively, workers at the Victim Advocacy Unit<\/a> at the University of Nevada, Reno Police Department.<\/p>\n Lauren Reid is the current victim advocate at the university\u2019s police department and previously worked as a detective for UNRPD before being the second to assume her current position.<\/p>\n The victim advocacy program started in 2018 when the police department was awarded a grant called \u201cTransforming Victim Services\u201d, given to them through the International Association of Chiefs of Police<\/a>. The previous advocate, Sony, was relocated in June 2020 and Reid immediately took over the position.<\/p>\n In her position, Reid works to make legal proceedings less daunting and mental health resources accessible to victims of crime.<\/p>\n What makes Reid\u2019s run as a victim advocate so special is the acquisition of Aspen, a one-year-old golden<\/p>\n doodle. Aspen was donated to the university through The charity 4E Healing Hearts<\/a> donated Aspen to the university, with her first day being Nov. 2, 2021.<\/p>\n Aspen helps by being present during interviews and legal proceedings for the victims to stroke her hair and cuddle up next to her. Currently, Aspen is in the process of becoming a certified therapy and facility dog through the program Canine Good Citizen<\/a>.<\/p>\n Reid was the one to propose and push for getting a therapy dog to help with retention of victims when Eric James became chief of police<\/a> in July.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s a lot of hesitation about \u2018Should I call? Is this something worth, like, asking about?\u2019\u201d said Reid. \u201cI think just knowing that she\u2019s here and you might get to see her again, you might be more inclined to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n Together, Aspen and Reid guide victims and provide them with emotional support while navigating the criminal justice system.<\/p>\n The Victim Advocate Program offers a myriad of resources and help for victims; Reid is the only victim advocate at this time. She is not a counselor or therapist, but will help in smoothly connecting those victims with the resources they need.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a good jumping-off point to see what your options are,\u201d said Reid. \u201cSo whether you do decide to file a police report, Title IX, Student Conduct \u2026 So it\u2019s basically kind of like the resource connection.\u201d<\/p>\n Another thing Reid wished to make clear is the only requirement is for a person to be a university student, staff or faculty member. Filing a police report or any other legal proceedings are not required to utilize the services.<\/p>\n The main resource Reid provides is accompaniment of victims through the criminal justice system. Reid is able to accompany victims of sexual assault to Sexual Assault Response Team exams at the hospital, sit with the victims during court hearings or be present during police interviews.<\/p>\n With most legal proceedings being online due to COVID-19, many victims can be present in court in Reid\u2019s office with Aspen by their side and Reid behind the camera coaching them through.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m kind of here to guide you through the criminal justice system,\u201d said Reid. \u201cAs students, it\u2019s probably the first incident that has led them to be in the criminal justice system\u2013whether that\u2019s as a victim or not. And it\u2019s confusing, it\u2019s scary, and doesn\u2019t always work the way we hope it does.\u201d<\/p>\n For students who are not comfortable visiting the police department, Reid has an off-campus office whose location is known only to her.<\/p>\n Photo courtesy of Lauren Reid<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cSo the police officers don\u2019t know where it is. Until I became the advocate, I did not know where it was \u2026 I would just tell you where it is, if that\u2019s where someone wanted to meet if they weren\u2019t comfortable coming here.\u201d<\/p>\n Another important role of being the advocate is to minimize harm and trauma as victims retell their story to police officers, detectives or lawyers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe try to minimize how many times you have to talk about it. So coming to me, as the advocate, I learn your story. And then I can\u2013hopefully\u2013almost tell it on your behalf so that you don\u2019t have to keep re-traumatizing yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n The police department was awarded the same grant from the International Association of Police Chiefs in Sept. 2021, but moving forward they have committed to having Reid and Aspen in the budget permanently.<\/p>\n Members of the campus community can find Reid and Aspen playing ball in grassy areas or on their Instagram, @AspenandtheAdvocate<\/a>.<\/p>\n Emerson Drewes can be reached via email at edrewes@sagebrush.unr.edu or via Twitter @EmersonDrewes.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"A](\"http:\/\/nevadasagebrush.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Aspen-Portrait-225x300.jpg\")
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